Bryant Gumbel Quotes

Powerful Bryant Gumbel for Daily Growth

About Bryant Gumbel

Bryant Gumbel, born on September 29, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an accomplished American journalist and former sportscaster, best known for his work as a co-anchor on NBC's "Today" show and HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel." Raised by his mother, Rubye Gumbel, a schoolteacher, and his stepfather, Harvey Smith Sr., who was the first African American to serve as mayor of New Orleans, Gumbel was instilled with a strong sense of social consciousness from an early age. This influence is evident in much of his work, particularly his investigative reporting on racial issues in America. Gumbel began his broadcasting career at WWJ-TV in Detroit before joining CBS News as a correspondent for the weekend edition of "CBS Evening News" and later co-hosting "West 57th." In 1982, he moved to NBC News where he co-anchored "Today" alongside Jane Pauley until 1992. During this time, Gumbel was instrumental in making the morning news show more hard-hitting and investigative. In 1995, Gumbel launched HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," a sports magazine series that delves into controversial issues in sports. The show has received multiple Emmy Awards for its investigative reporting. Throughout his career, Bryant Gumbel has been honored with numerous awards, including 14 Emmys and two Peabody Awards. He is also a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. Despite retiring from NBC News in 1998, Gumbel continues to be a vocal commentator on social issues through "Real Sports" and occasional guest appearances on CNN and MSNBC.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it."

This quote by Bryant Gumbel emphasizes that the greater the challenges or obstacles one faces, the more significant and worthy is the triumph achieved in overcoming them. It suggests that adversity can serve as a catalyst for greatness, as it forces individuals to dig deep and push beyond their comfort zones, ultimately leading to personal growth and a sense of pride in their accomplishments. The quote encourages persistence and resilience amidst hardship, highlighting the potential for glory or honor that comes from overcoming difficult situations.


"The media's job is to provoke thought, not answer all the questions."

Bryant Gumbel's quote suggests that the role of the media is to stimulate intellectual engagement among its audience by presenting diverse perspectives and important issues, rather than providing definitive solutions or answers to every question. By doing so, media serves as a catalyst for thought, inspiring people to analyze, consider, and form their own opinions about the matters presented. This approach encourages active participation and critical thinking in society.


"In our society, shysters and charlatans often get rich first and wind up in jail later; saints and heroes seldom get anything but a cold shoulder."

This quote by Bryant Gumbel highlights a societal paradox where individuals who manipulate or deceive (shysters and charlatans) often reap early rewards, yet eventually face punishment. Conversely, those who are sincere and altruistic (saints and heroes) are frequently overlooked and underappreciated. It suggests a critique of the values that prioritize monetary success over integrity and moral character.


"It's not the question of whether you can, it's the question of do you want to."

This quote by Bryant Gumbel emphasizes the importance of personal motivation and desire in achieving one's goals. It suggests that while a person may have the capacity or ability to accomplish something, the real test lies in their willingness to actually pursue it. In other words, ambition, determination, and perseverance are crucial factors in realizing success or achieving one's dreams, rather than just having the potential or skills required.


"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." (This quote is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but Bryant Gumbel has said he used it frequently on his show.)

This quote underscores the notion that safeguarding freedom requires constant diligence and watchfulness. In other words, for a society or nation to remain free, its citizens must always be vigilant against threats, whether internal or external, to their liberties and rights. The 'eternal' aspect emphasizes that this vigilance is not a one-time action but an ongoing responsibility, highlighting the importance of sustained effort in preserving freedom over time.


I feel responsibility for a lot of things that I manage to touch.

- Bryant Gumbel

Responsibility, Things, Lot, Manage

Your emotions are exposed when you play golf: humility, pride, anger, it all comes out with each swing. You lay it all on the line.

- Bryant Gumbel

Play, Emotions, Lay, Exposed

We are essentially in the business of telling stories. We would like to think that most of our stories are basically human stories with sports as a backdrop.

- Bryant Gumbel

Think, Stories, Telling, Essentially

I have been a sports fan my whole life. To be able to talk about sports in an intelligent, journalistic fashion and to do things of a serious nature is a dream job.

- Bryant Gumbel

Sports, Been, Journalistic, Sports Fan

My mom sees her sons as baby boys. Well, I stopped being her baby boy a long time ago.

- Bryant Gumbel

Mom, Being, Stopped, Sons

I'm still going to do television. I'm just not going to do morning television. I would like to do some things that satisfy interests, private interests.

- Bryant Gumbel

Some, Private, Still, Some Things

It's not that I dislike many people. It's just that I don't like many people.

- Bryant Gumbel

People, Like, Many, Dislike

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